Narak chaturdashi puja vidhi, How to do narak chaturdashi puja - Narak Chaturdashi, also known as Choti Diwali, is an important festival in Hindu culture celebrated the day before Diwali. This auspicious day holds profound significance as it commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
Narak chaturdashi puja vidhi | How to do narak chaturdashi puja
Observed with great enthusiasm, Narak Chaturdashi is not only a time for festivities but also an occasion for spiritual cleansing and renewal. The rituals performed on this day, including the Narak Chaturdashi Puja, are aimed at inviting prosperity, happiness, and divine blessings into our lives.
This step-by-step guide will help you understand the rituals, the mantras to recite, and the significance of each aspect of the puja, ensuring a meaningful celebration filled with devotion and joy.
Narak Chaturdashi Puja Vidhi
Narak Chaturdashi, also known as Choti Diwali, is celebrated the day before Diwali. It is a day dedicated to Lord Krishna and is marked by various rituals aimed at cleansing oneself of sins and inviting prosperity and happiness. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform Narak Chaturdashi Puja, along with the relevant mantras.
1. Preparation of the Puja Area
- Clean the Puja Space: Start by cleaning the area where the puja will be performed.
- Set Up the Puja Altar: Place a clean cloth on the altar. Decorate it with flowers and use colorful rangoli designs to welcome the deities.
2. Gather Required Items
- Puja Items:
- Diya (lamp)
- Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- Flowers
- Fruits (especially sweets like laddoos)
- Coconut
- Rice
- Turmeric (haldi)
- Red and yellow powder (kumkum and chandan)
- Water in a brass or copper pot
- A small bowl for offerings
3. Lighting the Diya
- Light the diya and place it in front of the idol or picture of Lord Krishna. You can use ghee or oil for the diya.
4. Recite the Sankalp Mantra
- Before starting the puja, it is essential to take a sankalp (vow) for the puja.
Mantra:
ॐ श्री कृष्णाय नमः।
5. Worship Lord Krishna
- Place the idol or image of Lord Krishna on the altar.
- Offer flowers, fruits, and sweets to Lord Krishna while chanting the following mantra.
Mantra:
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय।
6. Offer Water and Rice
- Take a small bowl of water and rice. Offer it to Lord Krishna while reciting:
Mantra:
ॐ जलशङ्कराय नमः।
7. Worship the Ancestors
- Offer food and prayers to your ancestors, which is considered very important on this day.
Mantra:
ॐ पितृभ्यः स्वाहा।
8. Light Incense Sticks
- Light the incense sticks and wave them in front of the deity while chanting:
Mantra:
ॐ ऐं ह्लीं श्रीं लक्ष्मीनारायणाय नमः।
9. Perform Aarti
- Perform Aarti of Lord Krishna using the lit diya.
Mantra:
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे।
10. Distribution of Prasad
- After the puja, distribute the prasad (offered food) among family members and friends.
11. Concluding the Puja
- Thank Lord Krishna for his blessings and conclude the puja by reciting a final prayer for peace and prosperity.
Mantra:
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
Additional Rituals
- Early Morning Rituals: On Narak Chaturdashi, it is traditional to wake up early, take a ritual bath with fragrant oils, and wear new clothes. This bath is often referred to as "Narak Chaturdashi Snan."
- Preparation of Sweets: Make sweets and snacks to celebrate the festival and share them with loved ones.
Significance of Narak Chaturdashi
This puja is believed to cleanse oneself of negative energies and invite positivity into one’s life. It is also a way to honor the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura.
By following these steps, devotees can celebrate Narak Chaturdashi with devotion and joy, welcoming blessings and prosperity into their homes.
Narak Chaturdashi story / Katha
According to Hindu scriptures, it is believed that once there was a demon named Narakasura and he was torturing people on earth. He had imprisoned 16000 girls and they were not able to bear his atrocities so all of them prayed to Lord Krishna to help them and kill the demon.
Lord Krishna along with his wife Satyabhama went to rescue all the girls and saved them all by killing that demon. He was actually killed by Satyabhama who was his mother in the previous birth and Narakasura had got a boon from Lord Brahma that he could only be killed by his mother.
After killing the demon, all the girls requested Lord Krishna to accept them as his wife because no one would accept them because they were kidnapped by Narakasura. So, Lord Krishna accepted their request and became their husband.
